Rosedale Ultra 30m 2011

I was up at 4.30, had breakfast and headed off in the dark to Hetton-le-Hole. I got there in plenty of time (I could have slept longer !) and registered. I only knew one other runner to talk to, but there were about three or four familiar faces. There were three distances available 40m, 30m and 13m setting off at half hour intervals. My start was at 8.00 and the mist had not burned off so we set off over the moor with about 75 yards visibility. We hit a small road and followed that to the top of Chimney Bank above Rosedale. There we turned north along the old railway line. Although we were gently climbing all the way, I felt good and it all seemed to be going well. The first checkpoint was at 7m and they only had water as advertised. The sun then came out for a short while and we could see down onto the mist in the valley. Then we were suddenly back in the mist with visibility down to 50 yards and it started to get chilly. We followed the railway line all the way round the head of the valley, but at times the line was just a bog so we ran alongside or up embankments. We came down one of these and it was a bit muddy. I was running in my Hoka's and I had suspected they weren't good in very wet mud. This was confirmed as my feet went from under me and I landed in the mud Three more falls were to come.

After a while we pulled up a large hill, crossed a road and then turned a sharp right into a very tough 2.5m section, which felt much much longer. It was basically a bog initially, then it turned into a mud bath. You would put your foot down and have very little idea how far it would go in - sometimes it would be up my calf, a couple of times it was over my knee. I know I had the wrong shoes on, but even my mudclaws wouldn't have coped with that, however they would have given me more confidence. I was so pleased when that bit was over and the second checkpoint at the end of it was well stocked with food and tea - sadly the remaining ones were just people in cars and large cartons of water on the verge.

We went into Dalby Forest where we were on good trails most of the time. While there some faster runners on the 30m route came by. They had apparently made a major navigational error and added 7m. Out of the forest and back to the moors before the major climb out of Rosedale and up Chimney Bank via a muddy trail. Then it was a lovely run down to Lastingham and then 2m back to Hetton-le-Hole, where a meal was provided. There were 26 runners doing the 30m race and I asked what position I was in when I came in. I had been passing runners, but I was astonished that I was 8th in a time of 6hr 38min What had happened was that a large number of the faster runners had added 7m to their run, which had promoted me way beyond my usual position. A tough run, but an enjoyable one and it will be my last marathon/ultra for 2011.

Shillington Shuffle 2011

Day 3 of the running weekend. This was a lovely event, great route, very clear route description (it wasn't marked), free tea and biscuits to start, cakes and biscuits at the first checkpoint, sandwiches and more at the remaining three checkpoints and a basic meal at the finish. All for £5, I love LDWA events

You could start any time between 8 and 9.30, but the first checkpoint (7m) didn't open until 10.00. Christina (who was accompanying me to the first checkpoint) and I started at 8.17. The first 7m were hilly and we kept an eye on the time, though not because we wanted to go faster, we wanted not to go too fast as we didn't want to cover the first 7m in less than 1hr 43. So we walked some flat bits in order to time it right. Never done that before so early in a run. We got it right and then Christina headed back a different way.

The route description was very good, although there were times when I got together with other runners to figure out which way to go. At one point the route description said something like 'carry on ahead passing three benches until you come to a cross track when you turn left to cross a bridge'. We came across a bridge with a path coming in from the right with a bridge and a bench. We got together and someone asked 'Who has been counting benches?' Lol, of course nobody had, but we made the right decision. The first half was fairly hilly but the second half was flat, but it crossed many fields and one field had no discernible path at all, we just waded through a muddy field of cabbages (or something similar) and I picked up loads of mud on my new shoes, which made them feel twice as heavy. Because you had to concentrate on which way to go all the time, the miles passed very quickly.

It was great to see so many people I knew at this event, it feels like there is this band of people who travel the country doing marathons and there will always be someone you know at any event. I managed to get back in about 5hr 52min and I was pleased with that

Enigma Poppy Day marathon 2011

A marathon on a Friday? Well why not, it was the 11th day of the 11th month of 2011. Naturally, the race started at 11:11. At 11 there was a two minute silence after a moving speech by one of the competitors who was a current member of the Armed Forces. There were about 60 runners some of whom started early and I didn't get to see, but there were lots of people I had met at other marathons and ultras

As this is to be a busy running weekend, the plan was to take it easy and I started off a little quick, but I slowed as the race went on. I had done this seven lap course twice before this year, but I didn't find it dull, though it was relief to go through half way. The weather was cloudy and mild, with only a very slight breeze.

About halfway round lap 6, I realised that a sub 4.30 was on. There have only been three of these this year, so I went on and started to push a bit harder on the final lap. I did the last half of the last lap with another runner and we worked together and came in together with 4hr 29min 4sec.

Photos

Newcastle Town Moor marathon 2011

The first time I did this race, the weather was wild, windy and cold. Last year was wet and cold. This year they moved the race from late November to the end of October and the conditions were almost perfect, mild, only a little wind and dry. In 2009 I didn't enjoy it all, the laps just depressed me. I enjoyed it much more last year as I got more into the social side waving to other runners, appreciating the marshalls. This year the laps weren't an issue at all, I think doing a track marathon earlier in the year has made feel that five laps isn't many at all.... 

The marshalls, who were all so encouraging, were pretty much the same as in the previous two years and they were in the same place on the moor. Many of them had food, jelly babies and drinks as well which supplemented the two drinks stations per lap. Flip applied to be a marshall, went through a rigorous interview, specialised training and a probation period (in other words he volunteered) and took up a position on the moor. Apparently he danced and sang to some runners, but I missed out on that for some reason...

I decided to dig out my annual plan for this race which is run each lap quicker than the previous lap. At least this year it lasted more than one lap, usually I go way too fast in the first lap and that is the end of the plan. I was aiming for 54min laps which have brought be in on 4hr 30. Lap 1 was 55min 21 which wasn't too bad. I ran with two clubmates right at the back just in front of two St John Ambulance cyclists who seemed poised to swoop like vultures watching their prey. 

Soon after the start of lap 2 one of my clubmates said the pace was too fast so I went on ahead at what I thought was the same pace. I was disappointed to find that it was a slower lap than the first lap, but not by very much. But at least the plan had remained a possibility until the end of lap 2.

Plan B was adapted which was just to run the rest at a steady pace and that seemed to work. Lap 3 was fine as I passed halfway (in 2hr 18). Lap 4 was mentally the hardest. Lap 5 wasn't too bad though I walked up the one hill as I knew by then it would make little difference to my time. I came in with 4hr 38min 31sec and had overtaken 22 other runners from the end of lap 1 when I was last.

The one thing that lifted me every lap was Fetchpoint. They were amazing, waving pompoms, offering food, drink and shouting loudly  Thank you

It was also great to have so many runners that I knew doing this race and to meet some Fetchie runners I hadn't met before

A great day out  

Abingdon marathon 2011

I had heard a lot of positive things about this event. It turned out to be well organised, almost completely flat, the running conditions were great (overcast and no wind) and there were supportive marshalls. There was also lots of people I knew from the fetcheveryone.com, they formed over 10% of the entrants. It would have been a great course to go for a fast time, but there was no way that I was in any shape to do this, this was my seventh marathon in less than a month. The aim had to be just to get round.

The course was roughly a figure 8 with the bottom loop covered twice. I found the top part the more scenic, but sadly we only covered that once. There was a bit of an incline on the bottom loop but it was eased by someone who had done some pavement writing in chalk. It listed some famous runners in Tour de France style and encouraging phrases. Some fetchies who weren't running had come quite a way to form a Fetchpoint, a support point for those running from fetcheveryone.com. It was in the bottom half of the course, so the runners passed it twice. I was counting down the miles to the Fetchpoint as I needed all the support I could get. They were noisy and supportive and kept me going.

I had started at ten minute mile pace and I managed to keep that up until mile 15, when I started to slow. I was hoping for a kick of energy at 17m like last week, but nothing happened. It did finally come, but not until 24.5m, a bit late, but I did enjoy the last 1.7m! 4hr 34min 32sec in total.

I had started at ten minute mile pace and I managed to keep that up until mile 15, when I started to slow. I was hoping for a kick of energy at 17m like last week, but nothing happened. It did finally come, but not until 24.5m, a bit late, but I did enjoy the last 1.7m! 4hr 34min 32sec in total.

Kielder marathon 2011

Well that went much better than I had hoped 

Saturday morning I helped out with Durham parkrun handing out tokens. 148 runners, so a good turnout with some students who are now back. Good to see Hamsterboy get a new pb 

Then it was off to Cramlington for the Harrier League cross country. Cross country is popular in my club and there is a great atmosphere at these events. There was an excellent turnout with quite a few new members there. The route was great and the conditions underfoot were perfect for me, soft and not too muddy. I took it easy the first couple of laps, but I couln't resist speeding up in the last half of the final lap. I did wonder how this would affect Kielder the next day....

The next day dawned and I got to Kielder early and at the start met up with other clubmates and Fetchies. It was drizzling constantly and the wind was strong so everybody was huddling inside the marquee. For the second year running the race was delayed by fifteen minutes as people struggled to get to the start from the car parks (there were shuttle buses). I don't know what the problem was the arrangements seemed better this year than last year.

My preparation had been five marathons in the previous two and half weeks and the cross country the day before so I had very low expectations of how this would go. I know the course well having completed four marathons there and I knew it was a challenging route. I started at the back and took it easy, but still a bit too fast. Once at the end of the reservoir, 7m, the bigger hills kicked in and we headed back to the dam at the other end of the reservoir. 

There were signs saying how far it was to the dam and it didn't seem that far. However we weren't even half way yet, so I tried not to think it was nearly over. I was walking up most of the uphills and plodding along the rare flat, but I did notice I was running well downhill and overtaking a few. Half way past in 2hr 20min and I was thinking the second half will be slower, we have to cross the dam into the wind and the approach to Bull Crag peninsula will be into the wind as will be the second half of the peninsula, you will slow down, so its looking like over 5hr.

I continued at the same sort of pace until 17m which was shortly before the dam. As I turned onto the dam the wind was nowhere near as bad as I had expected. In front of me were lots of runners walking and I felt very good so I speeded up and I was surprised at how much energy I had. The only thing I think I was doing differently was eating more shot blocks. So my amazement I found I could continue at that pace. I was still walking the steep inclines, but I seemed to fly downhill when everybody around me was hobbling or taking it very easy. I caught and left behind people who had passed me in the first half and continued like that to the end. I have never felt so strong in the last 9m of a marathon before, very strange, I don't really understand it. During those 9m, a little voice sometimes whispered the word 'Abingdon', but that was dismissed and I ran on, this felt too good to resist.

I had a good chat with friends and clubmates at the end. We were also approached by someone from Galloway Harriers who said how much he liked our club website and how well I and dillthedog wrote our race reports. That was unexpected and nice to hear 

It has been a great week, the new job is going well and to end it a lovely weekend 

Mablethorpe marathon 2011

Phew, that was a tough one ! The course itself was two laps and almost completely flat apart from a climb up the sea wall near the end of the each lap. There was some wind, which mainly helped to cool us down a bit, but it did get a little too strong when we were running into it. The big problem today was the heat, it was was up to 27 degrees and there was little or no shade.

I got there with plenty of time to spare and met up with people I knew from fetcheveryone.com and some new people from there that I had not met before. During the day, I also came across about five runners from Sunderland Strollers who I have seen many times before, so there was always people to talk to. The half marathon went off half an hour earlier than the marathon. After a bit of a delay, they were off and the did a loop first which meant they passed the start and the marathon Fetchies cheered on the half marathon Fetchies. Then it was our turn to start. The first few miles seemed to take a long time in the heat.

After 3m I was thinking, this is going to be very tough. Luckily there were water stations every 3m and plenty of extra ones were put on. There were people coming out and spraying us with water, people with buckets where you could put your hat in and put back on your head. I drank loads, more than I have ever done before and I was a bit worried it might be too much. It was very well marshalled by enthusiastic clapping marshalls, the best I have ever seen in any race and I have seen quite a few good ones. They were well looked after as well. On the second lap I overtook a small van that was delivering jacket potatoes to them. The organisers are due heaps and heaps of praise for a fantastic event in very difficult conditions The main organiser uses Fetch frequently and he also put out two extra signs 'Go Team Fetch' and 'Well done Fetchies', which brought a smile to my face on the way round. There were quite a few people sitting outside their houses encouraging us on, but once on the promenade about 2 miles from the end of each lap, there was lots more support. At halfway the half marathon Fetchies supported us with shouts of encouragement and later they came past in a car shouting encouragement.

The second lap was slightly different from the first. At 20m there was an out and back section of about 1m in total along a quiet country lane (it was an all road course). I lost a lot of drive at this point. I kept a close eye on the time and worked out I could get sub 5, if I made sure I ran more than I walked for the rest of the race. I managed this with 4hr 56min 13sec. I don't think I have ever been so pleased to finish a marathon, I was completely drained.

Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/105792896882008304219/MablethorpeMarathon2011

Great Barrow Challenge Day 4 2011

Day 4

On Day 3 at about 19m, my hip niggle came back, but once off road it seemed to disappear, but I was slightly anxious that it might make Day 4 very hard.

Day 4 initially appeared to have lots of road, but as it turned out not quite as much as I had expected . We started on quiet roads which undulated quite a bit. My general approach on all four days has been to walk anything going upwards and the runners surrounding me were doing the same. On the map it looked like there were two long straights which I was not looking forward to. The first was into Newmarket where we were told to give way to race horses and the second as we came out of the centre of Newmarket. We were also told that that bit rose gently upwards for almost 5 miles. My heart sank a little at this...

So once we had completed the undulating section, we got to the first straight, which wasn't too bad, but it did start to climb. Easily runnable but a bit draining and I found it a bit tough. However, it then veered off into woods close to the road and that was far more fun. Got through halfway and just before I got there I was overtaken by three faster runners who had started later. They slowed down for a chat, before heading onwards. There was an excellent atmosphere amongst everybody, the walkers were friendly as we overtook them (they usually started an hour ahead of us). I got through Newmarket and then started the long drag out and luckily the road wasn't straight, which I found easier. I ran most of it but also walked sections. Finally made it to the the third and final checkpoint before the next bit of off road. We were back in undulating country here, but it was good to be running through woods again.

Back to the road we had come out on and up the last two hills. I checked my watch and realised I had a good chance of my first sub-5 if I kept going. I got home in 4hr 56 which I was very happy with.

Would I do more than 4 in 4 days ? I don't think so. On the fourth day of the Quadzilla in February (which I couldn't do because of my Dad's birthday), I was buzzing and ready to run a fourth marathon. On Day 5 here, I certainly wasn't buzzing to get out there and do another marathon.

It is a good feeling to have done 4 in 4 and though I have one or two sore bits, I seem to have come through it in much better shape than I have been when I have completed some single marathons.

https://picasaweb.google.com/105792896882008304219/GreatBarrowChallenge2011

Great Barrow Challenge Day 3 2011

Day 3

After the first day I felt sore and stiff and I wondered if I would recover in time for Day 2. I did recover and Day 2 went reasonably well. After Day 2, I felt very good indeed and I thought that Day 3 would not be too hard.

It was hard. There was much more road than the previous two days, even more than I had expected, as a change to the route meant even less offroad. The route was mainly on quiet country roads, which rolled a bit, but nothing too serious. There were only one of two straight sections, which was a relief. As the day went on, it got hotter. Before we got back into Barrow we had a three mile offroad section. I liked that and moved much better. We also ran through a deer farm which was something I had not seen before.

I finished in 5hr15 so 5 minutes slower than Day 2, but I wasn't too concerned, I was just happy to have finished !

Great Barrow Challenge Day 2 2011

Day 2

Last night my legs very stiff and sore after Day 1, but I woke on Day 2 feeling not too bad. Today's route was to the east towards Bury St Edmunds and it had much more twists and turns than Day 1. The organisers had gone to town with flags and markers to make sure we didn't go wrong.

There were more rolling hills today and the sun was out, so I was a bit slower 5hr10min, but I enjoyed the countryside much more. We ran through Ickworth Park which was the grounds of an old country house. It was a lovely place to run, if you are ever near Bury St Edmunds, its is well worth a visit. We then crossed a few fields and entered Nowton Park, more like a city park, but large parts were just left to grow wild. Then it was some road and trail sections before we got back to Ickworth Park again.

The only part of the route I didn't like was a section about 22m where we ran along a section of road which had lots of trucks. We then had the same finish as yesterday with those two hills in the last two miles....

I feel much less sore than I did last night, so I am hoping that Day 3 to the south goes well.

Great Barrow Challenge Day 1 2011

The Great Barrow Challenge is a four day event and there is a choice of disciplines: walking, running or cycling. Each discipline has a choice of distances, although most people seem to be doing the maximum distance. You can change disciplines within the Challenge so there are some people who are running on Day 1, cycling Day 2, running Day 3 and cycling on Day 4. However, most people are sticking to one discipline. I did three marathons in three days in February so I thought I might push it a little and go for four marathons in four days.

Day 1

I arrived at Race HQ before 7.00 and in time to see some friends off on their 125mile bike ride. It was a small field although some riders set off later, the start times for all events are any time within a two hour window.

I faffed around and went to the run briefing at 7.45. We were warned about the sand at the top of the course and the tank tracks for about 6m from mile 16m. The tank tracks were said to be ankle twisting territory, so I thought I might walk most of that section. We set off soon after 8.00 and I took it very easy. We crossed a fairly busy railway line going over the rails and headed north. It was cloudy with no wind, so perfect running weather. It was almost perfectly flat, just a few very slight rolling hills and descents. There were a couple of slightly bigger hills in the last two miles, but my strategy was just to walk anything that looked like it was going upwards. Preservation is the key.

The course was very well marked. I hardly looked at the written instructions and I didn't look at the supplied map at all. I had downloaded the route to my Garmin and I used that the most. We went through a field of pigs. I did get slightly anxious after my recent experience, when I was chased across a field by some pigs (the fastest 200metres I have done for quite a while !) but after a few seconds I realised these pigs were contained by a low electric fence.

The route up to the top of the course was like running on a heath, not too hard. The sand at the top of the course was fine and not bad at all. At 16m I expected to find it much harder, but the tank tracks weren't too bad at all. Just a bit up and down and you could often run on the grass alongside. The last 4.5m were all on road and I enjoyed these much less. I came home in 5hr 4min. The only damage seems to be some chaffage from my rucksack, I was aware that my shirt was riding up early on, but I was unaware it was causing any damage. Bum bag tomorrow I think.

Moray marathon 2011

I am ashamed to say that this was my first time this far north and it was good fun to explore a new area. On the evening before the race I drove some of the marathon route and I must admit my heart sank a little. Long straights, gradual but long climbs. The weather was a bit grey which didn't help. I also realised that it has been a while since I have done a road marathon and it felt a bit of a challenge. The organisers were encouraging runners to finish in under five hours and I wondered whether I might not make that - I might just get tired of running as I had done two weeks ago at the Northumberland Coast marathon.

Race day dawned with much brighter, sunny weather. I met up with some other Fetchies, some new and some I have met before There had not been any signs out on the previous evening and the start/finish area was only sorted on the morning, so I thinking that this was a laid back event. The organisers knew exactly what they were doing (it was the 30th running of this event) and everything was ready in time and about 170 of us set off. The half marathon and the 10K used the later sections of the route so that everybody finished at the starting area of the marathon - those runners had buses to get to their starts. The mile markers counted down from 26 which I hadn't seen before.

We did a bit of a zigzag out of Elgin and then there was a steady climb out of the city. As a course I think I would say rolling, though there were some long flat sections. I enjoyed the route much more than I had the previous evening. The sun definitely helped, but it was warm. I don't think I have never seen so many water stations for a relatively small number of runners - every 2-3 miles and I was making full use of them.

I decided just to try and take this very easy. I had a plan to get to 3m in about 35 minutes and then see how it went. Well I got to the 23m sign (3.2m) in 30 minutes and that included the long drag out of Elgin, so not great pacing ! But I did try to slow down and quite a few people went by me. There was a woman about twenty yards ahead of me who was going about the pace I wanted so I just tried to keep to her pace. At 11m she stopped for a walking break so I went on and started to catch some of the people who had passed me earlier. From the splits, I did slow down after 9m, but I wasn't conscious of that at the time.

I thought I might try and speed up when I got to the 10k start (so just over 6m to go), but it didn't feel like there was much in the tank with the heat, so I plodded on, catching and overtaking other runners who were wilting in the heat. I was concerned I might just slow down again near the end and the penultimate mile was a struggle. The final mile was a breeze and I picked up on that one

4hr 37min 27sec was better than I had expected and it was good to come into the final straight in the front of the cathedral and to hear my name being called over the PA system

Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/105792896882008304219/MorayMarathon2011

Northumberland Coast marathon 2011

This is my favourite marathon and although today wasn't one of my better runs, I still loved it. 

The weather was sunny and it did get a bit warm and later a bit windy.

There was a number of people there I recognised. There was another Elvet Strider, Fetchies I had met before and several marathon regulars, including a couple of 10 in 10ers, that I have seen at other races.

It was an event organised by the North East marathon club, so it was low key and well organised 

I knew I had to start slowly, this is the first of three marathons in three weeks. Also my hip has been a bit sore this week. I went for a long walk on Friday and that seemed to improve it, but I knew I needed to be careful.

So off to a gentle start. katypie was not too far ahead of me and after about three miles she waited for me to catch up. We then ran together for the next twenty miles and they just flew by. However as we were approaching the last water station with about 3 miles to go, I just seemed to lose the will to run. We had a good chance of a sub-5 at that point, so I said to katypie that she should go on as she was clearly in much better place than me. Reluctantly she did finally did go on and she made it under 5 hours.

I really struggled in those last three miles, runners came by me and I walked far more than I ran. The final run into Alnmouth along the beach was very hard as the wind had picked up and it was in our faces. Finally made it back in 5hr 14min.

What happened ? I think I didn't have enough to eat. I had shot blocks, but had just 3, way too little. I had a flapjack at the first checkpoint, but nothing after that until the same checkpoint on the way back (23m). I wasn't even expecting any food at the checkpoints, so I should have taken some food with me and/or had more shot blocks. I did take the Succeed S-caps regularly so I should have had enough electrolytes.

It was great to have katypie's company, I am sure I would have struggled earlier if she hadn't been there. 

I will be back next year 

Dovedale Dipper 2011

What a great race ! There were some tough uphill sections, lots and lots of stiles and gates, some fantastic views and lovely sections, like Wolfscote Dale where we ran up a steep sided valley next to a stream.

And it was great to meet up so many people I knew. It was a three hour drive, but well worth it. A couple of my clubmates also made the journey down. The usual friendly, well stocked checkpoints and meal afterwards that you get at LDWA events

A tough run, but lovely. I am not in great marathon shape, so I was pleased to get through it and it will be good training for events later in the month.

Lakeland Trails marathon 2011

The scenery on this run was just amazing. I ran with a clubmate, Angela, and as she was not in the same form as she was at Druridge Bay, this meant the pace was comfortable, which was definitely a good thing in the hot weather. So I just relaxed and enjoyed the fantastic views. It was lovely to see so many Fetchies running and marshalling 

The course was fairly technical in places. I especially liked the wading through the river  

I definitely want to do this one again 

Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/105792896882008304219/LakelandTrailsMarathon2011?gsessionid=THUo7Yn1TWk31wx73MiSEg

Durham Dales Challenge 30m 2011

I headed off to Wolsingham for this Long Distance Walking Association (LDWA) event and picked up Sue Jennings on the way. We got there and chatted to other runners and met Joan Reeves at the start who was also doing the 30m route.

We started off running through Wolsingham and then straight up a big hill. We took it nice and easy and reached the first self clip at about 2.5m. This was the point where the 16m and 30m routes split and it was clear that most people were doing the 16m. We set off across the moor with nobody else in sight and it continued like that for a long way ...

We were running into a breeze and Sue was starting to struggle especially on the uphills of which there were quite a few. We reached Hamsterley Forest, which seemed full of flies. Climbed our way out and back onto the moors again. Sue was really struggling at this stage and at 10m she decided to pull out at the next checkpoint at 11.5m. She had also developed a dodgy stomach. I ran on to the checkpoint to warn them there would be a dropout. While we were waiting for her a car arrived asking if there were any people dropping out so the driver waited and then took Sue all the way home, which was very good of him.

I set off towards Middleton-in-Tessdale hoping to pick up the time a bit. It wasn't that easy, running by the River Tees was just lovely, but there was lots of mud and steps so progress was slow. Made it to the Middleton check point in about 4hr 15min. They had lovely sandwiches, cake and tea.

Set off again and the route followed a stream (uphill) and made it to the next checkpoint where we were presented with a choice, follow the windy road upwards or go straight up. I chose straight up. I think it was quicker.

Then I made a navigational error. I hadn't been able to work out this section beforehand. I had put the route on the Garmin and that worked well most of the time, but I knew not to rely on it here. I saw walkers ahead going down the left hand side of a stream and the instructions seemed to say go right (they did but I was taking that decision too early) so I went down the right. I ended up climbing through heather and the couldn't find any way over a wall, so I had to negotiate a steep descent to the steam - I slid down on my bottom.

Back on track and another big climb, past a reservoir and seeing some fantastic views - it looked sunny in the distance. Whilst on the moors it always seemed cloudy and dull, but everywhere else it seemed sunny!

After the next checkpoint (more fantastic food) we had to find a shooting butt with the number 4 inside of it. I never found it, but luckily some walkers pointed me in the right direction.

Finally made it to the last manned checkpoint (where they had quiche :-) ), past the elephant trees (they look like two elephants from the valley) and down into the valley towards Wolsingham. Finally made it back in 8hr 14 ! A long time on my feet. Joan Reeves had had a great run and came in with 7hrs 37 :-)

Then it was the usual LDWA two course meal All that food and the race for just a tenner!

A lovely day, but far from easy.

Liverbird marathon 2011

This event consisted of two marathon over two days on the same course. I could only do Day 1 which I wasn't too disappointed about as I got to know the course pretty well from just doing Day 1. The course consisted of a run down the River Mersey Promenade until you got to the end and then back to the start/finish area and repeat that four times. It was very flat. It was a fairly warm afternoon/evening (I have never started a marathon this late before, I think I prefer morning starts) and we had the breeze behind us on the way out and in our faces on the way back. It was good to have the river right next to us, it provided something interesting to look at.

I discovered on lap 1 that 6m+ was a bit too long to go without a drink (the only water station being at the start/finish) so I carried a drink for the last three laps. It was good to see the other runners all the time (it was a very small field, 23 starters and 22 finishers). The field included the runner who has run the most marathons in the UK (800+ which can be thought of as one a week for about 16 years...) and several regular marathon runners. I tired on the final lap, but I did manage to keep going a bit better than I have done recently and came in with a time of 4hr 33min. Time for a break and a bit of recovery now

Brathay Windermere marathon 2011

Well tomorrow the clock ticks over and my age category will have moved on 

It has been a lovely weekend. I went over to the Lakes for the third weekend running on Friday and on Saturday I went to see the start of Day 9 for the 10 in 10 runners. Some of them looked a bit stiff and there was more tape visible than on Day 2, but they were all still going. Just amazing 

I then followed then round the lake with ultrakazz and bumped into various Fetchies and people I knew on the way round 

Pictures : https://picasaweb.google.com/105792896882008304219/10In10RunnersDay92011

On Saturday night my two children and my daughter's partner arrived and yesterday it was the Brathay Windermere marathon itself. We got there to find very changeable weather. The forecast was sunshine and showers. The showers were brief but heavy and we had hail in one outbreak. But once we formed up for the briefing, the wether improved and sunny intervals for the rest of the day. I think we were very lucky  It was a bit windy, in our faces in the first half and behind us in the second half 

I was running with fats from my club. She was worried that she had had only one long run since our WHWadventure with dizzie1981 and I was worried that I had done too much running. Ideally she wanted to get a pb, that is under 4hr30 but we just thought we would see how it goes.

We started fairly quickly 

and all the way down the west side we seemed to be averaging under 9.5min/miles. We knew we should have stuck to 10 min/miles but we didn't seem to be able to do that. One or two other Fetchies who ran with us clearly decided we were going too fast and backed off. Halfway in 2hr 2min. The difficult third quarter was next and Fats' feet were starting to hurt so we walked up most of the longer undulations. Once we got through those we seemed to speed up. We lost a bit for a loo stop, but we were still 6 minutes ahead of 10 min/mile pace at 19m.

I slowed a bit at 20m, then we picked it up to the base of the 21m hill. My children were cheering us on at this point and then we got lots of shouts at Fetchpoint from RooA, Slowboy, YP1 and L  And a lovely jaffa cake. I had been taking Kendal Mint cake at most of the water stations and my stomach started to feel a bit bad and as we approached the 23m, I knew I was going to struggle to keep up with fats. We jogged to the water station at 23m and then I finally persuaded her to go on. I knew we would get home in under 4hr30, but she had the chance of a big improvement in her pb. She did that and got 4hr19 and I got home in 4h26, so I was happy with that.

My new Hoka Bondi shoes were lovely, I had only done 6m in them before, but they were lovely and bouncy 

Pictures : https://picasaweb.google.com/105792896882008304219/BrathayWindermereMarathon2011?gsessionid=K8PavWYZjFHOhwdY0SZ3wQ

Druridge Bay marathon 2011

I didn't sleep very well last night and I was up at 5.30. I think this had a major effect on what happened later.

Stratford didn't go well last weekend and I hadn't had any time to run this week apart from yesterday, but I thought a bit of recovery might help. It didn't appear to change anything.

I was pacing angpp474 on her first marathon at Druridge Bay. It was a complicated course, three big laps and one smaller lap. The big lap include two miles on the beach. I normally like running on sand, but I found it tough today, the wind was in our faces, the hard sand was often on a camber. There was also softer sand at the bottom end and then you had to get across a section of very soft sand to get off the beach. We did 2hr 15min for the first half, but we slowed soon after that, which was fine with me, I was starting to tire. Then at 22m I mentally lost focus and I just wanted to walk/run the rest. I sent angpp474 on (she was very reluctant to go, but did in the end) and I took it easy for the last four miles. angpp474 did great on her first marathon and finished in 4hr42 with me coming in 4min later.

Bomb had a good run coming in under 4hr and it was good to have Banjobox's support as he marshalled. It was also good to see ToonStroller again as we passed each other many times 

I do like these North East Marathon Club events, low key and friendly 

Hopefully I will be able to pull things round for Windermere on Sunday

Royal Shakespeare marathon 2011

I drove down from the Lake after Hawkshead and I was surprised how tired I was. Sleep on Saturday night would be no problem then.

No such luck, it was a very warm night even though it was throwing it down with rain. My hotel room was like an oven even though there was no heating on. A very poor night's sleep.

I drove the last twenty minutes to Stratford and found somewhere to park easily. Found the finish and then made my way to the start. It was good to see some familar Fetchies and to meet some new ones. I was way back from the front, but it all seemed a bit odd. There was a man with flag down the road who would apparently wave it if there was a false start. I wonder how many times that has happened ?

Anyway there wasn't one this year and off we went. I met more new Fetchies as I ran. The plan was just to see how it went and I seemed to settle quickly into ten minute mile pace. That made the Maths easy and it all seemed fine. I was aware that from an overcast start, it was getting sunny and I didn't have any sun cream on. I was taking water from very drinks station of which there were quite a few. Hundreds of marshals as well, it was very well organised. 

Good support from the locals as well, orange segments and jelly babies on offer from some houses. I also liked Stratford-on-Avon itself, it was very pretty.

It was a two lap course and about two thirds of the runners were doing the half marathon and just one lap and just before the split I came across Trumpton Riots who I hadn't seen for ages, it was good to see him again. He went off to the finish and I went off on the second lap which was much quieter. 10 min/miles continued fine until mile 18 when we came to the long hill. My energy levels had gone, so this was walked. It was probably a combination of Hawkshead yesterday, lack of sleep and the increasing heat and humidity. I was now getting two cups of water, one to drink and the other to throw over myself.

The last six miles along the Greenway were covered with a walk/run strategy, but I was happy to make it back in 4h36.

Then off the pub to chat with Fetchies and clubmates from the NE marathon club 

The long drive home was taken slowly with frequent stops as the tiredness started hitting me

Royal Berkshire marathon 2011

There are different sorts of marathons around at the moment. Big city marathons, trail marathons, Long Distance Walkers Association events and low key marathons with few runners. The Royal Berkshire marathon was one of the latter, with a maximum of forty entrants. The race instructions were along the lines of:

There are no marshals at the turns, map and compass optional. If you turn right, you are lost. From the start proceed 100m along the red surface, follow the turn to the left, proceed 100m, follow the turn to the left. Repeat 104 and a bit times.

Yes, it was a track marathon. The advantages of such an event is that you always have the leaders in sight (which sounds impressive if you miss out the bit about the laps), you don't have to carry anything as there is a water station every 400m, it's flat and there is a good surface. The major disadvantage is that it could be very dull and that is what I feared the most. As it turned out, it wasn't dull at all, there was always somebody to talk to and I knew quite a few people there.

There were some very experienced marathon runners running and quite a few runners from the Brathay ten marathons in ten days round Windermere event, which is starting shortly. Both male winners from the last four years and one of the female winners were running. There was also a seventy three year old male who did the first ten in ten event and is doing it again this year.

The overtaking protocol wasn't what I had been expecting. We were asked to run on the white line on the outside of lane 1, so that overtaking runners could overtake on the inside (or the outside). One you had overtaken you were expected to return to the outside of lane 1. If runners were running with someone else they had to be further out than the outside of Lane 1. It seemed to work pretty well.

We had to have a human lap counter to count the laps for us and I can understand why, I totally lost track of how many laps I had done. I asked my lap counter (who was counting for someone else and kindly agreed to count for me as well) to let me know how many laps I had done every ten laps (we had to wave, smile, give the thumbs up to our lap counter every lap so that we weren't missed). At certain times I was just dying to hear her shout I had reached 70 or 80 or whatever. My halfway time was 2hr 5min and I got my hopes up of a very good time, but I slowed in the second half. Laps 60 to 70 were the worst for me. There was a bit of a breeze but it was only in our face in the home straight where you were concentrating on catching the eye of your lap counter, so I didn't notice it too much. I was very happy to finish with 4hr 23min.

There were a few fast runners there. The winner only asked if he do the event the night before and finished with 2hr 32min ! I am not sure yet whether I will do another track marathon, but it was certainly an interesting experience and it was a well organised event.

Kielder Water marathon 2011

This was a no fee marathon for members of the North East Marathon Club. As it only costs £8 to join the club, this was an amazing bargain !

I could argue that my other club, Elvet Striders, had a big participation in this event. They formed 10% of the finishers and 20% of the helpers, but maybe I should also say there were 31 starters (one DNF) and 10 helpers 

I drove up with fats and dizzie1981 who were using the event for their training for a bigger challenge in April. It would be the second marathon for both of them. The first one for both of them was London, in different years, and they were aware this event would be just a little different....

The biggest difference is the hills. Somebody told us the ascent was 3000ft and I measured it as 2828, but whatever it was, there were lots and lots of climbs, not big ones but just unrelenting. Its the fourth time I have run round Kielder, but its the first time I have done it clockwise and of course I found hills which I never realised existed running in the other direction ! We started in Kielder village at the head of the reservoir, so we would have the more difficult north side first.

The aim was to walk the hills and run everything else, but we didn't start to walk the hills until about 9m. This was after we had passed Flip who had cycled out along the route with a backpack full of water to set up the first drinks station. Considering he didn't get to bed until 3.30 that morning because of his duties as race day director at the Hardmoors 55, this was an amazing achievement ! The other Strider who was helping was acting as a cycling first aider and we kept seeing him as he kept an eye on us.

We reached the dam in good time, but all three of us felt a bit tired. We had picked up a few other runners at various points in the race and four of us were together as we ran into the drinks station to be greeted by members of fats's family who gave us all a mental boost 

It drizzled for most of the day, dizzie said it had always rained when she comes here (so we are not allowing her to enter again ) and there were times when we were getting a bit chilly. Onwards on to the Bull Crag peninsula which never seems to end, to Leaplish which was the final drinks station. There was more mental boosting here as the fats family had driven round.

I started to tire soon after we left Leaplish. This was probably due to four very long runs in just over two weeks. On Bull Crag we had picked up another runner, who turned out to be toonstroller and he ran with us to the end. The other three were in a better condition than me and I tried to get them to go on, but they wouldn't.

We all finished together in 4hr49min, which was a 50min !! pb for dizzie 

Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/105792896882008304219/KielderWaterMarathon2011

A lovely event. The club is hosting three other marathons this year, Druridge Bay in May, Northumberland Coast in August (my favourite marathon) and the Newcastle Town in October. Not too be missed 

Bedford Clanger 2011

I wanted to do this one last year, but for some reason I couldn't make it. I made sure I could do it this year and I am very pleased I did. There were lots of people from fetcheveryone.com and folk from the Quadzilla there and it was good to catch up

The course was unmarked and there were no marshalls except at checkpoints. I had the route instructions with me, but I had also downloaded the route to my Garmin. I had never done this before and wasn't sure how it would work. It was pretty good, I didn't have to faff around putting reading glasses on and off, I could just glance at my watch and see the turns approaching. The only place I struggled was when there was a path on one side of hedge and a path or road on the other side - it was difficult to decide which side of the hedge I should be.

There were lots and lots of turns. After most races I can rerun the route in my head, but I don't think I could do it with this one, there so many turns and different terrain and scenery - roads, enclosed paths in woods, enclosed paths in housing estates, fields, it was just lovely Especially for me, having run along a canal last weekend, this was like a lovely breath of fresh air

What would also make it more difficult to rerun the route in my mind is that I spent the first 16m chatting to two Fetchies and that was great They sent me on at 16m and I felt reasonably strong. Towards the end I could see I was close to getting under 5hr so I speeded up in the last half mile and I was pleased I was able to do that. 4hr 56min 31sec

This was a lovely event and the organisers did a great job.

UltraRACE Grantham Day 2 2011

Day 2

Today was Grantham to Cotgrave, exactly the same route in reverse. As breakfast was not being served until 7 and the race started at 9, I decided not to have a proper breakfast this morning and had cereal bars and energy drink. This may have been a mistake.

As I went outside of the hotel I switched on my garmin - nothing I tried various combinations of buttons and suggestions from other runners, but nothing. I had a stopwatch on my normal watch so that had to suffice. I also had a memory of roughly how far the checkpoints were into the race, so that would have to do. Of course when I got home and charged the garmin again (it had been charged overnight) it worked fine ...

My legs felt pretty good and I started slowly, but then started to speed up. After the first checkpoint which was reached in under 10 min/mile pace, I lost it. This was the start of the 'downhill' stretch that I felt was uphill on Day 1, so I decide to just go for it. I wish my garmin had been working, I would love to have seen my pace, but I felt comfortable, shot blocks seem to be boosting me and I was passing lots of people. Got to roughly halfway in about 2h 25min and a Day 2 which was faster than Day 1 looked very feasible. After halfway the path changed from grass and mud to more hard packed trail and I didn't enjoy it as much. Also my speedy first half was starting to have an effect and I was slowing.... The shot blocks didn't seem to be as effective, but at least the Scaps seemed to work fine.

I also realised just before the final checkpoint that I hadn't been drinking enough, so I drank what I had left and picked up a new full bottle (this was probably all too late, once dehydrated it's difficult to recover). But then the sun came out, the weather had been a much better day than Day 1, we could see for miles and we could easily see Belvoir Castle which has been lost in the drizzle and cloud yesterday. But the sun coming out in the final quarter made it worse for me, I was running out of steam and walking much more. Some of those runners who I had passed in the first half who had made a much better job of the pacing started to come by. At this point I just wanted to reach the point on the canal where we were diverted off the canal to avoid improvements to the A46. It seemed to take for ever.

I was drinking all my water and luckily there were two young women who were car supporting somebody behind me so they seemed to be at every road crossing and I got some water off them.

I finally made it back in 5h 14min, so only 7min slower than yesterday, but as a run, it felt much worse. I drank two bottles of water straight away and went to the local supermarket to get some food down me.

Lessons learnt:

1. Before you leave home check that you have your favourite glasses in your glasses case;
2. When changing your mind at the last minute about which pair of shoes to wear on Day 1, remember to put the the new pair for Day 2; pair in your overnight bag and not leave them in the car which was at the start of Day 1 and the finish of Day 2;
3. Eat a better breakfast;
4. Be cautious about the pacing;
5. Think about how much you are drinking.

Still overall, I have come out of it okay, everybody was very friendly and I enjoyed myself, you can't ask for much more than that

UltraRACE Grantham Day 1 2011

Day 1

Today it was Cotgrave to Grantham. The route was mainly on the Grantham canal so it was pretty flat. There were some road works on the A46 so the towpath was closed and we were diverted onto a road for about a mile and there were further small stretches of tarmac at the beginning and end.The canal is not navigable for most of its length and there are stretches with no water at all. For the first 12m I was wondering whether I should have chosen road shoes as the surface was hard packed with no mud.

After Harby, 12m, it became grass and some mud for a while. I may have been losing it, but I had the impression that the canal was going uphill but the water in the canal didn't appear to be moving!

I was very pleased to get to the end of the canal which stops when you get to the A1. 5hr 7min and I am very happy with that. We stayed the night in a hotel in Grantham and there was a talk on the Marathon des Sables. There is no way I would do anything like that!

Enigma Quadzilla Day 3 2011

Day 3

I was very stiff last night and I did wonder whether I would be able to run at all today. I didn't sleep particularly well either, but to my surprise I woke to find my legs much better. I had slept in compression socks and maybe that made a difference. But my legs were certainly not as fresh as they were on days 1 and 2, so I decided that sub 5 would be fine and sub 4.45 would be great. I decided to go for the 8.00 start instead of the 10.00 so that most of my drive home would be in daylight.

On day 2 I had played cat and mouse with Sally, a non-Fetchie. She was ahead most of the time and I caught her just before the end. She thought I wanted to overtake her, but I didn't have any intention of going by her, I just wanted to hang on to help me get to under 4hr 30min. She speeded up the closer I got to her and we both got under 4hr 30min with her 1 second ahead

Today she was ahead for the first bit and lap 1, but then we ran about 4 laps together chatting away and it certainly made those laps much much easier However, by the start of lap 6, I was suddenly feeling pretty awful, nothing I could identify, just not in the mood to run as fast as I had been. So I told her to go ahead and I really struggled round lap 6. Having experienced this feeling before, I knew it would not last and at the start of the lap 7, the final lap, I felt much better. I knew there was an outside chance of sub 4.45 and I just ran steadily until one of my timing points (where I knew how long it would take me to get to the finish). Sub 4.45 was still possible, so I put my foot down a bit harder and came in with 4hr 42min. I didn't catch Sally this time, but seeing two Fetchies ahead (they were 10.00 starters so they had no need to speed up) gave me some motivation.

The weather today was grey again at the start but it became a lovely sunny day. The drive home was fine, but I was very, very stiff when I tried to get out of the car. It has been a lovely three days. I have met some interesting and very friendly people and I think I have got through the three races without any serious injury.